I finally did it!!!

After thinking about it and how much it would save, I finally did it. Scott brought me home the Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda and that was the last ingredient I needed to make the Homemade Laundry Detergent. Breaking down the cost would be pretty hard. I think it's actually going to be less than a dollar per batch. Each batch is supposed to last for 90 loads! Compared to the minimum of $6.97 that I usually pay for the store bought stuff that maybe lasts for 36 loads, I'm gonna have to vote for the homemade stuff. I used Ivory soap, recommended by a friend:). It took less than 30 minutes to make and I now have a HUGE pail of laundry detergent. Just thinking of the savings on our grocery bill makes me smile.

Now if I can only get up the courage to use cloth diapers...

I actually have to say that I'm really not up for that one. Although I prefer to use Huggies I have made the switch to NoName diapers. They cost about $20 for a large box and all the other brands seem to have gone up to $40 or higher for now. I will keep my eyes open for sales and buy the other kind when it goes on sale, but I couldn't justify spending that much more for the name brand. Thankfully Kiersten hasn't developed a rash from them and is almost done using diapers. We shall see how the new little one does.

We're always looking for ways to save and a couple weeks ago I learned how much I should be paid for my barber skills. $10 for each of the boys and at least $20 for Scott. I'm gonna have to say that spending $40 a month on haircuts would definitely not be my idea of wise spending. Thanking the Lord for Bro. Kiesel teaching me the basics of hair cutting and all the time I have while the boys are little to practice:). Overall I've liked how most of their haircuts have turned out. It helps me not to feel so guilty for paying $30(with the tip included) on my haircut about twice a year:).

In case I haven't said it lately(and because Thanksgiving is coming soon) I'm really thankful for where the Lord has placed us. There have been some rough roads, but the Lord has helped us to grow a lot as a family(and not just numerically or physically:). He's given us more opportunities to work with our hands and appreciate the feeling of being productive and making the most out of what He provides for us. I don't see us being who we are now if we'd lived in Oak Harbor or stayed in B.C. There was certainly a lot more fruit growing in our yard, but not the freedom of living out in the country. Enjoying the sunrises and sunsets that the Lord has created and just appreciating the simpler things in life. Not really having the Jones or the Smith to compete with:). Yes, the winters around here can be very long, but it certainly gives us the opportunity to be more creative, in order to get through it together as a family; not to mention that it sometimes gives us MORE time as a family because Scott doesn't work in certain temperatures. So, overall, even in the not so good times, we have much to be thankful for.

Now, off to help some little ones with school work and chores...